AFCON Diaspora Tour kicks off in London, draws stars and legends

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

The AFCON Diaspora Tour launched in grand style on Thursday night in London, attracting a lively crowd and a star-studded cast as celebrations for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 officially began.

Football icons Alex Song and Alex Iwobi, Ghanaian music sensation Stonebwoy, Nigerian chart-topper Odumodublvck, and former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein headlined the colourful event held at Piccadilly Circus in central London.

The London stop marks the first leg of a two-city Tour that continues in Paris on December 3 and 4. The original AFCON trophy will be showcased at the opening ceremony inside Palais de Tokyo, Yoyo, before returning to Morocco for the official TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 Trophy Tour.

David Dein hailed the moment as the dawn of a “new era” for African football, praising the sport’s global rise and the energy surrounding the 2025 tournament.

He noted that the success of the London launch reflects the increasing international admiration for African football’s flair and passion.

Former Cameroon midfielder Alex Song expressed joy at the diverse turnout, describing it as a powerful sign of progress. He said global celebrations of this magnitude were rare during his playing career, underscoring how far African football has come in showcasing its vibrancy to the world.

Music heavyweight Stonebwoy lit up the London ceremony with a commanding performance that thrilled an audience of international media, sponsors, and CAF partners. His appearance—alongside Odumodublvck—added a strong cultural pulse to the Tour, merging football, music, and African creativity.

The AFCON Diaspora Tour aims to highlight the powerful bond connecting African football to its global diaspora—a bond that echoes through every stadium, every anthem, and every moment of shared pride.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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